The Developing Volunteer Efficiency and Expanding of the Volunteer Network Program (W.A.R. Volunteer) this year, was held at Doi Suthep-Pui National Park in Chiang Mai. The second training session for wildlife conservation volunteers was again funded by the UPS Foundation Global Grants Program for the second year.

Summaries of Activities The initial seminar/training was held on August 11-13, 2008 at Doi Suthep-Pui National Park. Experts in various fields were invited to transfer their knowledge to 58 participants. The program included related field practices in nature and wildlife conservation.Upon the completion of the training, the project was portioned out into 25 activities, spreading out in five provinces in the north including Chiang Mai, Lampang, Lamphun, Chiang Rai and Uttaradit. Activities undertaken in the five provinces are as follows:

Doi Tao environmental protection network groups and students from Doi Tow Witayakom School launched a campaign on ‘ no logging’ and other activities which included: reforestation along the waterway galleys and around the gardens and the construction of three check dams by the participants.

Restoration of Soil Moisture for the Community Forest Land Location:Bann Na Wai, Chiang Dao district

The training focused on the local level conservation of forest and wildlife, for the field practice--two check dams on the upstream area of Bann Na Wai were built by the volunteers.

The training provided basic knowledge to participants on plants for wild animal food found in the forest. Plant seedling plots were tilled and will be used as a place for knowledge base for the school.

Villagers were given a chance to learn about the importance of forest and wildlife resourses. For practical training, four check dams were constructed in the forest area near Plang 4 Village by the jointed effort of monks, ordains and villagers from Mud Ka Sub-district

Forest Conservation Program around School Premises Location:Sang Wal Vidthaya School

Activities included planting forest trees for wild animal food in the surrounding land. Participants were asked to build bird houses from their own design.

Volunteers learned about the importance of forest resources, wildlife and plants for animal food and the process of check dam construction—followed by the actual construction of two check dams and the cultivation of plants for animal food around the school and surrounding areas. Around 100 participants, comprising of students and villagers from Chang Kian village took part in the activities.

The role of wildlife, in relation with forest restoration and the issue of symbiosis together with forest degradation were the main topics for discussion in the training. An exhibition on wildlife and forest was arranged at the school. The number of participants was around 120.

Planting Activities for Sustainable Life Location:Bann Wang Yow, Mu 8, Mae Kow sub-district, Sop Prap district, Lampang Training on reforestation, earmarked for villagers, emphasized upon the maximum benefit expected to be gained by the community. The sixty participants took part in planting 900 trees in a vacant land near Bann Wang Yow.

Restoration of forest land for the community Location: Four sub-district: Sop Prap, Samai, Mae koh, Na Yang, Sop Prap district

The program aimed at transferring knowledge on the importance of planting trees for improving the eco-system. Students and their parents, 350 in number, received 5,600 seedlings for planting in the designated land in the four sub-districts.

A teaching/learning camp was set up at Bann Mae Kouh school, aiming at transferring knowledge on the importance of forest and wildlife and also the method of check dam construction. Activities involved building of 10 check dams in Mae Kouh land and planting activities for forest restoration---carried out by 140 participants.

As a result from growing vetiver grass and tree planting around the school, more green area could be observed. As plants reduce environmental impact---which could be extended to mitigating the problem on global warming

Knowledge and awareness on the global warming problem was the main issue to be transferred to the participants. The importance of wildlife in the process of forest restoration was brought up for discussion in the training.Participants as well as their family were asked to plant two trees a year in Muang district.

In transferring knowledge on the impact from forest fire, preventive measures against fire were introduced to the volunteers.For forest fire prevention, integrated green belts were set up in the community forest in adjacent to the village, as a part of the upstream forest land conservation. The volunteers built two sets of equipment for fire suppression, to be kept at the village center. It is expected that the fire hazard will be mitigated. Moreover, the green belt around the village was completed at the end of the training session.

Introducing plant seedling culture in school

Location:Bann Mae Pok, Mu4, Sri Wichai sub-district, Li district

Items discussed in the training included: conservation of nature and wildlife; environmental conservation; tree planting and maintenance work e.g. weeding, watering and guarding. Trees planted in the area comprised of perennial plants, plants for animal food and edible plants. Seedling culture of various plant species was undertaken in the nursery/seedling product center for distribution to the community.

Items introduced in the training included: conservation of nature and wildlife; environmental conservation; preventive measures for forest fire; mitigation offorest fire hazard; impact from forest fire to wildlife and people. The participants built two sets of fire fighting equipment---to be kept at the school.An arrangement was made to recruit two groups of student volunteers for fire fighting.

Training activities aimed at providing knowledge on forest parks and forest park maintenance, plant species and wild animals around the school. The participants also learned about the global warming problem.

Youth and Forest Care, Sustainable Development for the Environment Location: KokRiver National park, Muang district

The activity took place at Pong Pra Ba waterfall, Mae Kok National ParkFrom Municipal School No.6, 80 students learned about the importance of forest and water in relation with human life, forest and food chain, forest as natural habitats for many living creatures. Activities included: exchanging of ideas and attitudes on nature and wildlife, creating awareness for people in conserving forest resources, wildlife and the eco-system.

Conservation Program for Wildlife Reserve Area at the Thai-Burmese Border

Location:Bann San Mai, Pa Tung sub-district, Mae Chan district

Wildlife conservation zone, covering the area of 16 hectares, had been demarcated in Bann San Mai area in order to encourage community participation and to strengthen the wildlife resources conservation network at the upstream of Mae Chan River. The volunteers also produced a wild life conservation map, built a stretch of fire protection integrated green belt for the wildlife reserve area, producing signboards showing the wildlife reserve demarcation lines and setting up a volunteer group, recruited from the villagers, for guarding the protected area.

Villagers from Bann Hego learned about the need for retaining soil moisture in the forest by erecting check dams, the proper method for weir construction and the importance of forest restoration and forest care. The training activities included the construction of two check dams by 40 participants from the village.

The role of vetiver grass in preventing soil erosion, cultivation method, techniques in propagation and its relationship with soil and water conservation were the main issues in the training program. Related activities included planting vetiver grass in the school ground and the processing of vetiver grass into domestic products in accordance with the design initiated by par